Multiple molding apparatus.



PATENTED SEPT. 8, 1903.

A. K. BEGKWITH. MULTIPLE MOLDING APPARATUS.

APPLICATION FILED NOV. 2. 1901.

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No. 738,277. 7 PATENTED SEPT. 8,1903.

A. K. BEGKWITH. MULTIPLE-MOLDING APPARATUSL A PPPPPPPPPPPPPPPP 0V. 2. 1901.

No. 738,277. PATBNTED SEPT. 8, 1903. K. BEGKWITH.

MULTIBLEL MOLDING APPARATUS. APELI-,0ATI ON,IILED 170v. 2. 1901.

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I UNITED STATES Patented September 8, 1903.

PATENT ()FFICE.

ARTHUR K. BECKWITII, OF DOWAGIAC, MICHIGAN.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent N 0. 738,277, dated September 8, 1903. Application filed November 2, 1901. Serial No. 80.857. (No model.)

1''!) ctZZ whom it 'ntcty concern:

Be it known that I, ARTHUR K. BEOKWITH, a citizen of the United States, residing at the city of Dowagiac, in the county of Cass and State of Michigan, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Multiple Molding Apparatus, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to improvements in multiple molding apparatus.

Heretofore multiple molds have been produced whichwere adapted to caststraightwork or work which lay substantially all in the same plane, and such molds have been found practical for rough work where the gate of patterns could be arranged in substantially the same plane. Where the work was of irregular shape and curved forms or contained considerable depressions or hollows, it has been found impracticable to produce a satisfac tory mold for a high-grade casting.

My invention pertains to improvements on this class of molds whereby the sand within the mold can be properly conformed to produce any kind or grade of casting.

To this end the objects of my invention are, first, to provide a new and improved apparatus for forming a multiple mold which shall be very compact, thus greatly economizing the floorspace of the foundry, and which will at the same time produce a superior grade of casting; second, to provide an improved apparatus for the manipulation of molders sand or other molding material.

Further objects will appear in the detailed description to follow. i

I accomplish the objects of this invention by the devices and means described in the following specification.

The invention is clearly defined,and pointed out in the claims.

A structure or apparatus fully embodying the features of my invention is clearly illustrated in the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification, in which- Figure lisaverticalsectional view through a series of superimposed flasks and molds,

taken on a line corresponding to line 1 1 of Fig. 2. Fig. 2 is a similar sectional view taken on a line corresponding to line 2 2 of Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a perspective view of the top side of a bottom match-plate for use in the apparatus. Fig. 4. is a perspective bottom View of a top match-plate. Fig. 5 is a perspective view of one of the flasks. Fig. 9 6 is a perspective view of the retaining and striker frame for use in connection with the flask. Fig. 7 is a detail perspective view of the difierent parts of the apparatus as they come into use. Fig. 8 shows the form of the castings as they come from the molds. Fig. 9 is a detail perspective view of the speciallyformed striker-bar for use in connection with my improved molds for shaping the same to produce irregular forms of castings.

In the drawings all of the sectional views are taken looking in the direction of the little arrows at the ends of the section-lines, and similar letters of reference refer to similar parts throughout the several views.

Referring to the lettered parts of the drawings, A A are the flasks. When these are in place in the multiple mold, they are supported upon a base-plate B of the same contour, or the entire multiple mold may rest upon the foundry-floor.

D is the striker and sand-retaining frame in the top of each flask. On the top of the sand in each flask is formed the under half or portion of the mold, and in the bottom of the next superimposed flask is the top half or portion of the mold, the same being piled as high as convenient or practicable to pile the flasks or molds. A sprue-hole is formed centrally down through all of the flasks except the bottom one, and gates lead to the mold thus formed between the top of each flask and the bottom of its superimposed flask. The inside of the flask is provided with suitable corrugations or ribs for retaining the sand. In the top of each flask is inserted a sand-supporting and striker frame,

' which insures the mold being properly retained in the flask in case it becomes necessary to invert it, and this frame also serves as a guide for the striker-bar, so that the loose sand may be properly stricken off without compressing the same. The striker-bar for irregular work, such as appears in the drawings, is provided with an irregular edge or projection E, which by manipulation will very readily scoop out the loose sand, thereby conforming the loose sand in the mold substantially to the form of the pattern, as

clearly appears in Fig. 7, so that when the sand is compressed the same will be evenly compressed and a perfectly-even regular casting produced. The first mold is formed on the base-plate B, which is transferred from the molding-machine to the foundry-floor. The second mold is formed on the top of the match-plate B, which has a suitable pattern formed on its top, onwhich the flask A is placed and guided by pins n, entering the holes and notches 2 d.

When the mold has been filled with sand, the sand-retaining and striker frame D is placed on the top of the mold, being supported bya pair of rods e e, laid in suitable notches in the top of the frame. The flask is then filled with loose sand up above the top of the striker-frame and the top is stricken E by the irregular striker-bar, whereby a portion of the sand is scooped out and the joints between the flasks are substantially conformed to the curve of the pattern, whereby the sand will thus be evenly rammed into place. The top match-plate C is then placed on top of the frame and the supporting-rods e e withdrawn and the match-plate pressed to position, when the mold will be found to be perfectly formed on the top and bottom of the sand in the flask. A sprue-holeis then cut down through the middle, as clearly appears in Figs. 1 and 2. By this means of properly forming the edge of the flask and by striking or scooping out the sand by a suitably curved or conformed striker-bar the sand in the mold is conformed substantially to the pattern, so that when the same is pressed in a molding-machine the sand Will have an even pressure and the mold will be a perfect mold, even for irregular castings.

My experience shows that with this treatment dome-shaped stove-topsare very readily cast and the castings produced are of very high grade and are as perfect castings as can be produced by the old methods. I have stated that the frame should be compressed in a suitable molding-machine; but this is not at all essential, as the pressure can be applied to the match-plates for compressing the sand in the flask by any suitable means. The sand-supporting frames are a very desirable feature. I am aware, however, that by properly conforming the flasks and strik-' ing'off the sand satisfactory results may be secured without the use of the same. The flasks are provided with suitable guides for locating the same properly one above the other, which guides of course correspond with the match-plates used in forming the mold at top and bottom.

When the mold is made up in this way, a single pouring will make a great many castings, whereby there is a great saving in labor and also a great saving in metal, and owing to the fact that the molds are piled one on top of the other of course there is great economy in the floor-space occupied and also a great economy in carrying the molten metal from the cupola to the mold; also, the'molder does twice the usual work, because each flask is a cope and a drag and the flask is handled as expeditiously as a cope or drag alone. There is obviously only a little more than half the usual amount of sand required.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. An apparatus for forming molds in the top and bottom of a flask of molding material, consisting of the flask suitably corrugated within; a match-plate on which said flask is supported containinga portion of the pattern; a striker and sand-retaining frame of such size as to go inside the flask to be placed on the top of the flask with cross-rods for supporting it at the proper elevation; at striker-bar shaped so that it will form the material into the general shape of the upper match-plate; and a match-plate at the top of the mold containing the corresponding reverse portion of the pattern; whereby the top match-plate can be crowded down onto the flask to compress the sand after the supports for the striker-frame have been removed, for the purpose specified.

2. An apparatus for forming molds in the top and bottom of a flask of molding material, consisting of the flask, a match-plate on which said flask is supported containing the top portion of the pattern; and a striker and retaining frame of such size as to go inside the flask to be placed on the top of the flask with means of supporting it at the proper elevation; and a match-plate at the top of the mold containing the corresponding reverse portion of the pattern; whereby the top match-plate can be crowded down onto the flask to compress the sand after the supports for the striker-frame have been removed, for the purpose specified.

3. The combination of a flask of irregular contour; a match-plate for the bottom there- ICS of; a match-plate for the top thereof; a striker 

